OKLAHOMA CITY: Russell Westbrook's fans finally got to show their appreciation for his loyalty to the Thunder.
Westbrook had 26 points and 10 assists to help Oklahoma City beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-94 on Sunday night. It was Oklahoma City's first home preseason game after opening with two games in Spain, then playing in Dallas and Tulsa. Oklahoma City's crowd cheered loudly when Westbrook was the first player announced during pregame introductions, in part, because the former scoring champion and two-time All-Star MVP re-signed with Oklahoma City after Kevin Durant chose to leave for Golden State.
Westbrook fired up the crowd when he got one of his typical blow-by layups in the first quarter and was fouled. He got the arena energized again when he uncorked a highlight-reel one-handed dunk in the third quarter.
Steven Adams had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Victor Oladipo scored 11 points and Enes Kanter added 10 points and eight rebounds. The Thunder (2-3) will host Denver on Tuesday.
Thunder guard Anthony Morrow was not with the team because he was awaiting the birth of his twin sons. Thunder guard Alex Abrines left the game with a right hip contusion and did not return.
The Timberwolves played at Miami on Saturday, so Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine were among those who rested Sunday.
John Lucas III scored 18 points and Adreian Payne added 16 for Minnesota (3-2). The Timberwolves host Memphis on Wednesday.
Hawks 105 Magic 98: In Orlando, Fla., Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 19 points to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 105-98.
Millsap made 7 of 12 shots and had nine rebounds and seven assists for the Hawks (3-2).
Serge Ibaka scored 25 points and Evan Fournier added 22 for the Magic (1-4)
Hawks: Thabo Sefolosha scored 15 points and made 3 of 4 3-pointers. ... The Hawks shot just 40.9 percent from the field but made 23 of 27 free throws. ... Rookie Taurean Prince scored 13 points in 27 minutes.
Magic: Ibaka, in a more significant offensive role in Orlando after having played with Durant and Westbrook in Oklahoma City, made 9 of 15 shots. He had 19 points and 17 rebounds Friday against Indiana. ... Bismack Biyombo had 19 rebounds. ... Orlando made just 12 of 24 free throws. Biyombo connected on just 3 of 10.
Up Next: The Hawks host New Orleans on Tuesday. The Magic play at the Heat on Tuesday.
Cavaliers re-sign shooting guard Smith after lengthy talks
J.R. Smith will return to the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers after signing a new deal following a lengthy off-season negotiation for the veteran shooting guard, the team announced Saturday.
Smith's contract is reportedly a four-year agreement worth as much as $57 million, incentives potentially boosting the dal beyond the $14 million a season he had sought.
The 31-year-old long-range sharpshooter played in 77 games last season for the Cavaliers, averaging 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 30.7 minutes a contest.
"Bringing J.R. back as part of our core group was a priority for us," Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said. "He's a special part of this family and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement that we all can feel good about."
Cleveland made the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history to defeat the Golden State Warriors in seven games and claim the city's first major sports crown in half a century.
"We know he can't wait to get back on the court with his brothers and we are certain that everyone in this organization and city feels the same way," Griffin said.
Smith ranked seventh in the NBA last season with a club-record 204 3-pointers, shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Westbrook had 26 points and 10 assists to help Oklahoma City beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-94 on Sunday night. It was Oklahoma City's first home preseason game after opening with two games in Spain, then playing in Dallas and Tulsa. Oklahoma City's crowd cheered loudly when Westbrook was the first player announced during pregame introductions, in part, because the former scoring champion and two-time All-Star MVP re-signed with Oklahoma City after Kevin Durant chose to leave for Golden State.
Westbrook fired up the crowd when he got one of his typical blow-by layups in the first quarter and was fouled. He got the arena energized again when he uncorked a highlight-reel one-handed dunk in the third quarter.
Steven Adams had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Victor Oladipo scored 11 points and Enes Kanter added 10 points and eight rebounds. The Thunder (2-3) will host Denver on Tuesday.
Thunder guard Anthony Morrow was not with the team because he was awaiting the birth of his twin sons. Thunder guard Alex Abrines left the game with a right hip contusion and did not return.
The Timberwolves played at Miami on Saturday, so Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine were among those who rested Sunday.
John Lucas III scored 18 points and Adreian Payne added 16 for Minnesota (3-2). The Timberwolves host Memphis on Wednesday.
Hawks 105 Magic 98: In Orlando, Fla., Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 19 points to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 105-98.
Millsap made 7 of 12 shots and had nine rebounds and seven assists for the Hawks (3-2).
Serge Ibaka scored 25 points and Evan Fournier added 22 for the Magic (1-4)
Hawks: Thabo Sefolosha scored 15 points and made 3 of 4 3-pointers. ... The Hawks shot just 40.9 percent from the field but made 23 of 27 free throws. ... Rookie Taurean Prince scored 13 points in 27 minutes.
Magic: Ibaka, in a more significant offensive role in Orlando after having played with Durant and Westbrook in Oklahoma City, made 9 of 15 shots. He had 19 points and 17 rebounds Friday against Indiana. ... Bismack Biyombo had 19 rebounds. ... Orlando made just 12 of 24 free throws. Biyombo connected on just 3 of 10.
Up Next: The Hawks host New Orleans on Tuesday. The Magic play at the Heat on Tuesday.
Cavaliers re-sign shooting guard Smith after lengthy talks
J.R. Smith will return to the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers after signing a new deal following a lengthy off-season negotiation for the veteran shooting guard, the team announced Saturday.
Smith's contract is reportedly a four-year agreement worth as much as $57 million, incentives potentially boosting the dal beyond the $14 million a season he had sought.
The 31-year-old long-range sharpshooter played in 77 games last season for the Cavaliers, averaging 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 30.7 minutes a contest.
"Bringing J.R. back as part of our core group was a priority for us," Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said. "He's a special part of this family and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement that we all can feel good about."
Cleveland made the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history to defeat the Golden State Warriors in seven games and claim the city's first major sports crown in half a century.
"We know he can't wait to get back on the court with his brothers and we are certain that everyone in this organization and city feels the same way," Griffin said.
Smith ranked seventh in the NBA last season with a club-record 204 3-pointers, shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.
